Machine for making compound boxes



L. E. LA BOMBARD.

MACHIN FOR MAKING COMPOUND BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24,1917.

Paten'wd Ma.1'.8,1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEEI 1 1 i oi Invenior 16 f. 10 501-176 0rd iii] 5 SHEETSSHEE1 2.

Patented L E. LA BOMBARD.

MACHINE FOR MAKlNG COMPOUND BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. 1917.

L. E. [A BOMBARD. MACHINE FOR MAKING COMPOUND BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 24; 1917- 1,370,654. Patented 8, 1921. 5 SHEET$$HEE1 3- eltion:

Ze0 z E Z226 oma Lx E. LA BUMBAHD. MACHINE FORMAKIN G COMPOUND BOXES.

5 SHEETS-SHEE] 4- zaza nzrei L.- E. LA BOMBARD. MACHINE FOR MAKING COMPOUND BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, 1 917.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921,

5 SHEETS-SHEE'I 5- 1 i I: I ./.9. 5 i y fiweizi'oi Z6072 EZaBo 7715 ard UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEONE. LA BOMBABD, or CHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS, Assreiwon To SPECIALTY AUTOMATIC MACHINE'COMPAJNY, or CHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS, A coRroBA- TIQN OF MASSACHUSETTS.-

MACHINE FOR MARIN G COMPOUN D BOXES.

I r. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

Making Compound Boxes, of which the fol-.-

lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture I of paper boxes, the resent applicationbeing a continuationo my earlier applicatlon Serial No. 69942, filed January 3, 1916, now Letters Patent 1,285,007 granted November 19, 1918, in so far as the claims cover subject matter disclosed in the earlier application. The invention relates particularly to the manufacture of paste board boxes comprising two members or blanks one of which is considerably larger than the other and forms the bottom and top and the inside walls of the box," the other member or blank being smaller and in the general form of a strip which, when the box is set up for filling, incloses the end and front walls of the main or larger member. Boxes of th1s type are commonly referred to as candy boxes since they are very largely employed for containing candy sold at retail. The boxes are kept in stock in fiat condition and are set up by the employees of the'dealer before filling. Boxes of this type would be very expensive to make, if made, each from a singleblank, because there would bea great waste of material in cutting out the blanks.

Hence it is customary to make such boxes of two. blanks or members which are adhesively connected. So far as I am aware, the assembling of the blanks in pairs, so as to fit themito be afterward set up into receptacle form to hold goods, has only been done by hand.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a simple and rapidly operating machine which will automatically and accurately assemble and unite the two blanks of a box, the machine turning out the product in flat condition, convenient for shipping and storing.

With the above and further objects in view my invention consists in the improvements which I shall now proceed to describe and claim:

Of the accompanaying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the essential parts of a machine embodying my inven tion, the upper feed devices being omitted to permit parts below to be shown.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same, includlng the upper feeddevices.

Figs. 3 and 4, on two Sheets because of the larger scale, taken together, represent a longitudinal section of the machine.

Fig. 5 is an elevation, from the opposite side, of that portion of the machine which is shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail plan of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail looking from the right of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 represents a detail section on line 8-8 of Fig. 4, on a larger scale.

Fig. 9 representsa detail section on line 9-9 of Fig. 3 on a smaller scale.

Fig. 10 represents a detail section on line 10 10 of Fig. 3. Figs. 11 to 15 are diagrammatic views toillustrate successive operations of the machine on the blanks. 7

Figs. 16 and 17 are, respectively, plan views of the body and-band blanks.

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the body blank in the angularly bent form.1n which it passes through the machine.

Flg. 19 represents the two blanks in the relative positions which'they occupy as they approach each other to be joined.

Fig. 20 represents the two blanks after being joined. A

Fig. 21 is a up for use.

Similar reference characters indicate similar parts in all of the views.

The frame of the machine includes side perspective view of a box set bars 25, and suitable tie rods and leg supports.

The wide blanks a are fed one at a time from the bottom of a pile in the lower hopper 26, by a feed wheel 27 carried by shaft. 28 and having friction plugs 29 in its periphery. .Each blank then passes under a belt 30 mounted on a pulley 31 carried by shaft 28 and a small pulley 32 carried by a suitably supported bracket 33 (see Fig. 3). A lower belt 34, which is not positively driven, is mounted on suitably supported rolls 35, 36. The belt 34 is not directly underneath belt 30, but at one side of the vertical plane thereof (see Figs. 1 and 10). This is to avoid taking any such grip on the blank, while advancing it, as to prevent the blank from being straightened out as presently described. The upper stretch of belt 34 is supported by a strip 37 carried by s1de bars 38 (Fig. 10) so that the blank wilLbe supported in proper position while the twist belt 39 breaks down a side portion of the blank on one of its creased lines (Fig. 10). The twist belt is mounted on and driven by a pulley 40 (Fig. 5) carried by shaft 28 close to feed wheel 27 (Fig. 1), said belt running over a roll 41 carried by a suitably supported arm or bracket 42 the roll 41 being mounted to rotate'onan axls at the proper angle to give such twist to belt 39 as to cause its inner stretch to act on the p'or-' tion a of the blank to break it down to vertical position. The gradual twist of the operative stretch of the belt is such that 'if' the blank is askew, it will straighten it out as it leaves the influence of said belt because, at such point, the portion of said stretch has reached a vertical position close to one of the bars 38.

The belts 30, 34, 39 travel at substantially the same speed, but do not so rip ablan as to prevent it from being straightened out by the action of twist belt 39 hearing against it at the angle between portions a, a In other words, ifthe blank enters askew, the

portion a is bent down (Fig. 10) just the same, and the inner line of the angle will be caused to aline with the edge of belt ,34. This action would be interfered with if the part 30 did not travel. That is, if it were a stationary guide finger or shoe, the friction between it and the blank would tend to cause the blank to become askew even if started straight. For these reasons, I provide the two carrying belts 30, 34, traveling substantially side by side, and not tightly gripping the blanks, so the twist belt 39 can readily perform its described function.

- Just as the blank is leaving the influence of the twist belt, its down turned portion passes behind a vertical guide plate 43; that 1s, it passes-between said guide plate and the adjacent bar 38 and enters between a feed chain 44 .and a long guide bar 45 (Figs. 6 and 7). Said chain is mounted on sprockets 46, 47, mounted on or carried by vertically mounted stud shafts, the shaft for sprocket 47 being driven by suitablegearing to cause the chain to travel in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1. This chain carries, at suitable intervals, hook-shaped lugs 48 to engage the vertical portions of the rear ed es of the blanks. Each blank, when it is elivered to position to be acted on by a hook 48 of the chain, is free from any other forwarding or advancing influence, because it has passed beyond belts 30, 34, and remains a moment as indicated in Fi 7 and 18 until a hook 48 reaches or catc es up with the rear edge of the down-turned portion (1'. Then said hook will feed or push it along at a uniform speed without liability of its twisting .or turning. Owing to the bent form of the blank, as in Fig. 18, and the fact that the blank is so guidedthat it retains this bent form, a sin le chain with lliligs will feed it accurately. he reason for e ecting the travel of the blanks a along this portion of the machine by the chain lugs 48 engaging the vertical instead of horizontal portions of the blanks is that, as

presently described, an adhesive is applied to the tongues a a of each blank, which tongues are parts of the horizontal portions of the blanks. (a is turned up and backwardly igs. 3 and 20). For obvious reasons these later treatments of horizontal portions of the blanks would be interfered with if said por- And one of said ton ues tions were to be enga ed by feeding lugs.

The lower edge 49 ig. 7) of the long superstructure bar 50 (Figs. 1, 3 and 5) slightly overlaps the angle of the blank, and a guide strip 51 supported by suitable arms (Bi 7) depending from" cross or tie rods of t e machine, directs the horizontal portion of the blank properly, I

As the blank a is now pushed along, a

suitable adhesive, hereinafter referred to as glue, is applied to the u'nder surface of each of its tongues a a by the glue pads 52 carried by arms 53 revolving in a glue box 54. One arm is carried by a shaft 55 (Fig. 9) mounted in an outeror. sleeve shaft 56 which carries the other arm. The outer shaft is positively rotated (see Figs. 1 and 2) and the inner shaft is clamped or set therein by "any suitable means which will permit the inner shaft to be rotatively adjusted so that its arm 53, instead of being radially opposite the other arm as in Fig. 3 will be at a moreor less obtuse angle relatively thereto By a dial and pointer arrangement such as indicated in Fig. 2, the degree of angle may be determined. The object of this adjustment of one pad relatively to the other is to adapt the glue pads to properly act' (See in time to push it along and bring its tongue a over one pad as the latter reaches itshighest position, the other pad. then coming up under the rear tongue a A suitable adjustable scraper, indicated partly by dotted lines in Fig. 3 is employed to control the thickness of the glue transferred by the pads.

fter the tongues have received their spots of glue the front tongue (1 is turned up and over to present its glued area uppermost to receive thereon the front end of the strip or band blank I), the feed of which will be hereinafter explained. As the blank a is fed along, it passes under spring pressers 57 (Figs; 3 and 12) which not only hold hook 60 which is normally held in the path' of the approaching edge of the tongue by a spring 61. As the blank is'pushed along,

, the spring yields and the arm and hoo swing up as shown in Figs. 3 and 12, the hookcarrying the tongue a up and holding it during continued feed of the blank so that said tongue is laid back with its glued area under the end-b of blank 6 which is now approaching it in a downwardly inclined direction. (Figs. 12 and 19).

Before proceeding further with the description, of the travel of blanks a, I will describe the properly timed feed of the blanks b to bring them into proper assembly with blanks a. r

A suitably supported hopper 62 is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, but is omitted from Fig. 1,

' to avoid concealment of parts below. The

long band blanks b are fed, one at atime, from the bottom of a pile in hopper 62, by

a feed wheel 63 similar to the feed wheel 27, carried by shaft 64 mounted in an upwardly" projecting portion of the rigid bar 50. Also carried by shaft 64 is a sprocket wheel 65 for chain 66 which is driven by a sprocket 67 (Figs. 2 and 4) carried by shaft 68. The chain has suitably spaced lugs 69. The blanks are fed by the wheel 63 over an adjustable retard 70 similar to one which extends under wheel 27, and over an idle roll -71 and guide 72 pivoted at 73 and adjustable by a screw 74.

Each blank fed over the guide 72 passes over a guide strip 75 and under belt 77 presently described. During this movement, blank 6 travels in a downwardly inclined direction, the chain 66 passing under an adjustably mounted sprocket 76. Traveling parallel with the operating stretch of chain 66 for the greater part of its length, is a belt 77 mounted on pulleys 78, 79, the pulley 78 being carried by a shaft 80 having a sprocket driven by a chain 81 which, in turn, is driven by a sprocket .wheel carried by shaft 64. A series of pairs of rolls 82 insur proper travel of the belt 77.

The connections just described are such that the belt 77 travels faster than chain 66.

The friction of the belt on the blanks is not heavy, but is suflicient to insure the move:

ment of each blank until its front edge catches up to a lug 69, (Fig. 4), after which belt77 slips on each blankand keeps its front edge in contact with lug 69. '/T'he b of the long blank 5 down and carry it up against the under surface of tongue at of blank a. A chain 83 (Figs. 2 and 4) is mounted on sprocket wheels84, 8 5, the shaft 86 of the latter being actuated to drive the chain 83 faster than the-speed of the blanks for a reasonpresently described. At two or more places, 'the continuity of the chain 83 is interrupted by devices which, for convenience I term pockets. Each pocket consists oftwo U-shaped bars 87 which take the place of one or two links of the chain. The two bars of each pocket are side by side but spaced as indicated in Fig.8 to enable said ockets to be carried aroundthe sprockets. ach pocket carries a pivoted hook 88 held by a spring normally in the position shown in Fig. 4, with the hook pro ecting slightly out from the chain. A finger 89 is carried by a short rock shaft 90 havingi oan arm 91 provided with a roll 92 engaged y a cam 93 formed in one side of sprocket 76 (see dotted lines, Fig. 4). Said cam acts to hold finger 89 raised while the travels faster than the blanks which are now. J

in contact with'each other, and as the spring of hook 88 is a-very light one, said hook readily yields downward and carries the rear section 1) down -(see Fig. 14), the

, pocket 87 permitting this; As the hook 88 swings down, it slightly bends the section 6 over the front e ge of the pocket, thus insuring a proper .fold of said section. Then the upward tendency of hook 88, and finally the rear: edge of the mouth of the pocket (which, as stated, is traveling faster than the blanks), carries the section 6 up against the" under (glue coated) surface of the tongue (1 of blank (1 (Figs. 15 and 20). This finishes the fold of section 6 the section b has been folded up as .de-.

After scribed, the assembled blanks are directed l by a guide 95 (Fig. 4) to thenip of two pressing rolls, the-upperone' of which is carried by shaft 68, and the lower one by a shaft 96. The blanksare then directedby another pair ofrolls carried by shafts 97, 98 to any suitable receptacle or to a pair of delivery belts 99, 100, mounted on pulleys carried by shafts 101, 102. 7

The pressure rolls travel, peripherally,

i slightly faster than the speed of the hook lugs 48 of the side chain 44, and therefore, as soon as the front ends of the assembled blanks reach the nip of the first pair of presser rolls, said rolls begin, to draw the blanks away from the hook lug wh1-ch is acting on the rear edge of portlon a of blank a. By the time the said rear edge reaches the pressure rolls, there has been sufiicient advance of the blanks to entlrely clear said rear edge from the hook 48 with which it had been engaged so that when sald hook passes around the sprocket 47 (Fig. 1) it can not, as it moves away, carry the edge of the blank with it and tear it. v

After the machine has joined the two blanks as shown in Fig. 20, each compound box so made is usually folded fiat for shipment, such fold being made on the crease line which, in Fig. 18, defines the angle where the main or larger blankis bent. o

A set up such a box for use it is manually un- .folded sufficiently to permit the four wall flaps of blanka to be turned up at a right angle to that portion which is to form the bottom of the box, and then the blank 6 is opened out and swung to position to inclose the end and front walls as shown in Fig. 21. This manual operation is well understood by all candy store people.

' As the invention claimed herein is not affected by any particular system of gearing and shafting, it will be unnecessary to describe the details of the driving mechanism 'for the machine and its various parts,

claim is:

1. A machine for making paper boxes comprising means for bringing a pair of blanks into surface contact with each other, and means for connecting the blanks together at separated points leaving major portions of the blanks unconnected, whereby the united blanks may be opened up to form a box.

2. A machine for making paper boxes from pairs of blanks, said machine comprise ing means for transversely folding both blanks of each pair, means for assembling the two blanks after such folding, and means for connecting the blanks together at separated points leaving major portions of the blanks unconnected, whereby the united blanks may be opened up to form a major portions of the blanks unconnected whereby the united blanks. may be opened up tov form a box.

4. A machine for making paper boxes from pairs of blanks,-said machine comprising means for transversely folding both blanks of eachpair, means for assembling the two blanks after such folding, and means for adhesively connecting each folded portion of one blank to a flat surface of the other blank leaving major portions of the blanks unconnected whereby the united blanks may be opened up to form a box.

5. A machine for making paper boxes, comprising two hoppers for blanks, means for feeding blanks singly from each of the hoppers, means for bringing the blanks from the hoppers together in completely overlying flat relationship, and means for ing over portions of one blank of each pair, 4

means for applying adhesive to portions of one blank in position to adhesively connect the folded over portions of one blank to the other blank when the two are brought together, and means for bringin said two blanks together in flattened relationship.

7. A machine for making paper boxes, comprising two blank hoppers in alinement, means for feeding blanks singly from each of the hoppers, means for causing the blanks to travel in the same direction in pairs, one above another, and means for connecting the twov blanks of each pair at isolated points while said blanks are traveling.

8. A- machine for 'making paper boxes, comprising two blank hoppers in alinement, means-for feeding blanks singly from each of the hoppers, means for causing the blanks to travel in the same direction in pairs, one

and means for adhesively securing the ends of the strip blanks to the tongues of. the body blanks.

10. A machine for uniting blanks to make compound boxes, comprising a plurality of hoppers for the blanks, means for feeding blanks from the hoppers in timed relationship, means for folding over or doubling portions of the blanks, and means forappllying adhesive to limited areas of the blan s in locations to retain the blanks together with their folded portions secured.

11. A machine of the character described, comprising two hoppers for the blanks, means for feeding a pair of blanks in timed relationship one from each of the hoppers,

, means for applying limited areas of adhesive to different portions of one of the pair of blanks, means for turning over a portion of each blank, and means for assembling and compressing the two blanks together.

12. A machine of the character described, comprising two hoppers for the blanks, means for feeding a pair of blanks in timed relationship one from each of the hoppers, means for applying limited areas of adhesive to different portions of one of the pair of blanks, means for turning up and bending over one portion of one blank, means for turning a portion of the other blank down and bending it underneath, and means for assembling and compressing the two blanks together.

13. A machine for making paper boxes, comprising two blank hoppers 1n alinement,

I means for feeding blanks singly from, each of the hoppers, means for causing the blanks to travel in the same direction in pairs, one above another, rotative means for applylng adhesive to separated portions of one blank of each pair while traveling, and means for pressing the pairs of blanks together.

I 14. A machine for making paper boxes, comprising two blank hoppers in ahnement, means for feeding blanks singly from each of the hoppers, means for causing the blanks to travel in the same direction in pairs, one above another, a pair of rotary glue pads spaced to apply glue to separated portions of one blank of each pair while traveling,

and means for pressing the pairs of blanks together.

15. A machine for making paper boxes,

comprising two blank hoppers in alinement, means for feeding blanks singly from each of the hoppers, means for causing the blanks to travel in the same direction in pairs, one

above another. a pair of rotary glue pads spaced to apply glue to separated portions of one blank of each pair while traveling, means for adjusting the positions of said pads relatively to each other,-and means for pressing the pairs of blanks together.

16. machine for making paper boxes, comprising two blank hoppers in alinement,

the lower blank of each pair,

means for feeding blanks singly from each of the hoppers, means for causing the blanks to travel in the same direct1on in pairs, one above another, means for applymg adheslve to front and rear portions of a yielding folder having a portion to engage the edge of said lower blank and turn it over, and means for presslng the pairs of blanks together. I

17. machine for making paper boxes, comprising two blank hoppers 1n alinement, means for feeding blanks singly from each of the hoppers, means for causing the blanks to travel in the same direction in pairs, one above another, means for applying adhesive to front and rear portions of the lower blank of each pair, a pivoted hook to engage a front edge portion of the blank and turn it over, aspring to cause the hook to double said portlon over on the body of the blank, and means for pressing the pairs of blanks together.

18. A machine for making paper boxes, comprising two blank hoppers in alinement, means for feeding blanks singly from each of the hoppers, means for causing the blanks to travel in the same direction in pairs, one above another, means for applying adhesive to front and rear portions of the lower blank of each pair, means for turning the front adhesive-bearing portion of said lower blank over on the body of the blank, a folder for doubling over the rear portion of the upper blank of each pair, and means for presslng the pairs of blanks together.

19. A box-making machinehaving a carrler for advancing blanks successively, and a folder for doubling over the rear portions of the blanks while the latter are traveling, a movable support being provided to aid the folder in determining the line of fold.

the blanks, a twist belt arranged relatively to said guide to bend a portion of each blank at an angle to the rest of it and press said bent portion squarely up against the side of said guide.

22. In a box-blank folding machine. three belts for acting on the blanks. two of the belts having their acting portions side by side to carry the blanks, the third belt being twisted and crossing the plane of the acting portlons of the carryinrr belts at an acute angle to said plane to bend a portion of each blank and press it laterally to insure its passing through the machine straight.

.115 guide for theblanks. means for advancing the friction carrier faster than the carrier. having the lugs, whereby the front edges of blanks contacting with said carriers will be caused to abut said lugs, and means for doubling the rear portions of the blanks in a forward direction. I

24. In a machine of the character described, a belt, an endless chain having lugs, I

- the operative stretches of the belt and chain being side by side, means for driving the belt faster than the chain to cause the front edges of blanks to abut the lugs accurately spaced, and means for doubling the rear portion of each blank in a forward direction while traveling.

25. In a machine of the character described, an endless carrier having a pocket, means for causing a blank to travel in a plane substantially parallel with said carrier,.v

means for deflecting a portion of the blank toward said pocket, and means connected with said carrier to engage said deflected portion and bend or fold it to a further extent. I

26. In a machine of the character described, an endless carrier having a pocket, means for causing a blank to travel in a plane substantially parallel with said carrier; means for deflecting a portion of the blank toward said pocket, and a yielding hook con- I nected with said carrier to engage the edge of saiddeflected portion and carry it into said-pocket.

27. In a machine of the character described, blank-carrying means, an endless chain having a pocket, a ylelding hook adjacent said pocket, means for deflecting the rear end of the blank to position to be engaged by said hook, and means for driving said chain at a speed faster than that of the blank-carrying means.

28. In a machine of the character described, blank-carrying means, an endless chain having a pocket, a yielding hook adjacent said pocket, means for deflecting the rear end of the blank to position to be engaged by said hook, said hook being located relatively to the mouth of the pocket to bend the deflected ,portion of the blank over the front of said mouth, and means for driving said chain atra speed faster than that of the blank-carrying means.

29. In a machine of the character described, an endless carrier having a pocket, means for carrying a blank to travel in a plane substantially parallel with said carrier, means for deflecting a portion of. the blank toward said pocket, said means comprising a vibratory finger with actuating devices to cause it to operate with proper-timing, a

engage the edge of said deflected portion,

and means for driving said carrier at a speed greater than that of the blank.

30. In a machine for 'makiin I boxes, means for bending a blank to angular form with substantially horizontal and vertical portions, a single carrier having a lug to engage the rear edge of the vertical portion of the blank at one side of the bend thereof, means for applying adhesive to a horizontal portion at the other side of said bend,'and means for guiding said blank in its angular form.

31. In a machine for making boxes, means for feeding blanks singly in hori-. zontal or fiat position, means for bending a portion of each blank to substantially vertical position, a chain having lugs spaced to cause one lug to engage the rear edge of the vertical portion of each blank, means for operating on the horizontal portions of the blanks, and means to guide the an ularly bent blanks while pushed along by said lugs.

32. In a machine for making boxes, means for feeding blanks singly, means for bending the blanks angularly, an endless carrier having hook-shaped lugs to engage the rear edges of the blanks at one side of the angular bends thereof, means for uniting other blanks to the bent blanks, and pressure rolls provided with means for causing them to rotate with a peripheral speed in excess of the speed of travel of the lug-carrier to disengage the blanks from the lugs after said uniting.

A machine of the character described, comprising means for feeding and bringing into juxtaposition pairs of dissimilar blanks, one blank of each pair being long and narrow and the other having a tongue at each of its front and rear edges, means for applying glue to the under surface of each tongue, means for folding the front tongue of each pair to lap the front end of a long blank, means for folding the rear end of each long blank to lap the rear tongue of its companion blank, and means forpressing the pairs of blanks.

34. In a machine for uniting two dissimiblanks, means for applying adhesive to front .carrier contacting with rear portions of said and rear portions of one of the pairs of" blanks, and means for pressing the pairs of blanks together.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

LEON E. LA BOMBABD. 

